As the 13th edition of the ICC ODI World Cup kicks off in Ahmedabad today, it is time we took a dive into what makes cricket so special to so many people around the world.

An important figure behind Sri Lanka’s emergence as a cricketing force in the world, Hashan Tilakaratne is someone who possesses vast knowledge about the game. The former Lankan captain, who was an integral part of the 1996 World Cup-winning Sri Lankan side, has been in charge of the Bangladesh women’s team since November 2022. During an exclusive interview with The Daily Star’s Abdullah Al Mehdi, the 56-year-old talked about the mindset and the relationship a coach needs to have with the cricketers, the recipe for success in the World Cup, and his expectations from the Tigers ahead of the mega event in India.  

There was a lot of scepticism surrounding the exclusion of an experienced Khaled Mashud Pilot in favour of a young wicketkeeper-batter Mushfiqur Rahim in Bangladesh’s 2007 World Cup squad. 

You reach a consensus, perhaps to the tune of “they will get blown away this year” or, at the other end of the spectrum, “they’re playing well, they might just conjure something”. And then the Tigers do the opposite.

When last the ODI World Cup was played in South Asia, in 2011, five of the top seven wicket-takers in that tournament were spin bowlers. In the recent Asia Cup, however, in which more matches were played in Colombo (a notoriously spin-friendly venue) than any other venue, five of the top seven wicket-takers were seam bowlers.

The Bangladesh captain said that he is uninterested in personal achievements and is only concerned about contributing to team's success.

The ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023 is set to get underway tomorrow with a repeat of the 2019 final between New Zealand and England in Ahmedabad at the Narendra Modi Stadium.

The ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023 in India will be brought to life by some of the most recognisable voices in the game.

New Zealand's Tim Southee will miss the World Cup's opening match against holders England and potentially some of the following matches due to an injured thumb, stand-in-skipper Tom Latham said Wednesday.

From being brutally trolled on social media at the beginning of his career to becoming the mainstay of Bangladesh’s batting line-up in recent years, Najmul Hossain Shanto has come a long way as a cricketer. The 25-year-old, who is set to play his maiden ODI World Cup, will definitely play a crucial role for the Tigers in the mega event in India. The in-form batter opened up about his game, and expectations from the showpiece event along with a few other topics during an exclusive interview with The Daily Star’s Mazhar Uddin. The excerpts of the interview are given below: 

In Hyderabad, Australia made 351-7 from their 50 overs with Glenn Maxwell particularly ruthless on Pakistan's bowlers.

One by one, the bands are getting back together, ahead of a tournament that matters an awful lot more than the reputation of its format would suggest.

The world has changed a lot since the inaugural edition of the ICC World Cup took place in England way back in 1975 as a ‘necessary evil’ and at a time when the radio or the affluent people’s black and white televisions were the only modes to tune in to the action of cricket’s showpiece event. 

On the crowded streets outside the world's biggest cricket arena -- the 130,000-capacity Narendra Modi Stadium, which will host the opening match between defending champions England and New Zealand on Thursday -- hawkers report a brisk trade.

Bangladesh are scheduled to play two of their initial World Cup matches in Dharamsala.

While playing semi-pro club cricket in Australia, Edwards made ends meet by training as an electrician

His best ODI score of 97 not out was made against Pakistan at Abu Dhabi in 2018 while two of his 16 half-centuries came in his two most recent matches against Bangladesh and Pakistan at the Asia Cup.

He made history when he became the first Black South African to score a Test hundred, against England in 2016. But he needed patience over the next seven years, two months and 88 innings as he waited for his second Test ton

Shakib has been leading they way for his side since making his World Cup debut in 2007.

With De Kock looking sharp and still batting on 84 not out when the match was interrupted, South Africa will likely feel aggrieved at the outcome.